Method of connecting metallic elements



July 1 R. MATTICE METHOD OF CONNECTING METALLIC --ELEMENTS Filed Julyl7, 1925 Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES ROYAL MATTICE, 0F BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF CONNECTING METALLIC ELEMENTS.

Application filed m 1' This invention relates to a method of connecting metallic elements and has particular reference to a method of connecting together, end to end, H-beams or-the like by electric welding, although obviously the method herein described can be satisfactorily employed to connect together almost any two or more metallic elements.

In the construction of buildings of. the present day, it is common practice to position two H-beams, end to end, and to rivet a plate to each H-beam across the juncture or meeting edges of the webs of the H- beams. In doing this, the web of the H- beam is necessarily more or less weakened because of the rivet receiving apertures extending therethrough. Further, the rivet being comparatively small is very liable to shear off in time and due to normal settling of the entire structure.

This invention aims to provide a method of connecting metallic elements together by means of welding, and more particularly, pertains to such metallic elements as are commonly used in the construction of buildings, bridges and the like with the purpose of constructing a building, bridge or the like without the use of rivets or other analogous elements.

It has been found in actual practice, that metallic elements which are connected ,by the method and in the manner herein described are capable of withstanding greater strains and stresses than those connected by the usual and customary rivets or other analogous elements, and still further, it has been found that it is entirely ractical to construct an entire building y such a method, with the joints thereof accurately aligned and the elements making up the building firmly connected together and capable of withstanding far greaterstresses and strains than buildings or the like constructed in the usual and customary manner.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages enumerated above.

'It is a further object of this invention to provide a connecting means for two metallic members which is electrically welded to each member. 1

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method of connecting together two or more metallic membersby electric welding. ,7

the rivets of the 1925. Serial N0. 44,340.

Another object of this invention is to provlde a method of connecting together two H-beams in such a manner as to effect a strong and durable, substantially integral structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followlng description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the two H- beams showing the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line '2-2, Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of an H-beam, showing triangular shaped openings.

Referring now, more particularly. to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate H-beams, the beams being positioned end to end, the juncture being indicated at 3. While H-beams are shown, it will be understood that these are merely by way of example, and other types of metallic members may be used.

The webs of beams 1 and 2 are indicated at 4 and 5 respectively.

In connecting the two beams 1 and 2 together, after they have been placed in the position indicated, I employ connecting plates 6 and 7. Prior to-the attachment of the plates 6 and 7 to the Webs of beams 1 and 2, I form a plurality of elongated or elliptical openings 8 therein. These openmgs are shown as symmetrically arranged in the plates, but this is merely by way of example.

The plate 6 is then positioned across the juncture 3 of the beams and is electrically welded to the webs 4 and 5, the openings 8 being filled in with metal 9.

A plate 7 similar to plate 6, is secured to the opposite side of thebeams in the manner just described.

' It will be apparent that when the plates 6 and 7 have been welded to the beams, there have .been formed a lurality of elongated sections or shelves wli the plates with the webs, thereby affordin a far greater support or connectin means or the two beams than is possib e with the rivets of present day usage. In effect, an integral structure composed of beams 1 and 2 and plates 6 and 10 has been formed, and the greater bearing surface afforded by the welded shelves is far more satisfactory than present day.

Referring to igure 3, the" H-beam is ich connect shown as 10 and a plate is designated as 11. The plate is provided with a plurality of triangular shaped openings 12, of which only two are shown in the drawings, and it will be obvious that when the plate is welded to two H-beams across the juncture thereof similar to the method described in Figure 1, there will be formed at the point of weld a triangular shaped ledge which will furnish adequate support and form a substantially integral structure formed by the joined H- beams and the plate. It will be obvious that other types of openings may be provided within the scope of the invention, the fundamental idea being to provide a comparatively large bearing surface at the point of weld.

As heretofore recited, the drawings are by -way of example, and they disclose beams connected and positioned end-to-end. However, the inventive thought disclosed herein is not to be considered as restricted to a 1 structure connected end-to-end, as obviously the method herein is adapted to connect members arranged other than end-to-end. For example, a beam may be arranged angularly with respect to another beam, with the end of the first mentioned beam abutting said second mentioned beam at a point intermediate the end of the latter. The angle formed by said two beams may be substantially a right angle or an acute angle on one side and an obtuse angle on the other. An angular plate may be positioned against the two beams in the angle formed therebetween, and welded to said beams in the manner heretofore described. This method is obviously within thespirit and scope of the invention herein shown, and it is not to be understood that the invention is limited to the connection of two members arranged end-to-end.

It is believed that the invention will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art, but I desire it understood that the invention is susceptible of many variations and such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims without de parting from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. The method of connecting metallic members together end to end which comprises electrically welding a plate to said members on each side of the meeting edges thereof in such a manner as to form a plurality of shelves at the points of weld, the longer dimensions of said shelves being disposed opposite the longitudinal direction of said plate.

2. The method of connecting metallic members together end to end which comprises forming elongated openings in a plate, positioning said plate against said members, across the meeting edges thereof and filling said openings by electric welding whereby to unite said plate and said members, the longer dimensions of each of said shelves being disposed opposite the longitudinal direction of the plate.

3. In the erection of buildings, bridges or the like, the method of connecting buildin elements which includes forming elliptica openings in a plate, positioning said plate across the meeting edges of said elements with the openings on each side of said meeting edges, and then filling said openings with metal by electric welding to form led es connecting said plate to said elements with the longer dimensions of said ledges arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of said plate.

4:. The method of connecting abutting metallic elements together which comprises electrically welding a plate to said members on each side of the meeting edges thereof in such a manner as to form a shelf at each point of weld, the longer dimensions of each shelf being disposed transverse to the line of strain to which said elements are subjected.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROYAL MATTICE. 

